Filming in Egypt
Everything a foreign production needs to know before shooting in Egypt: how permits work with the Egypt Film Commission, bringing in equipment, where to shoot, and how a local production company gives you filming support on the ground. Written by the team that has done it since 2007.
Why productions choose Egypt
Egypt packs very different looks into one country: the Giza pyramids and Saqqara, the temples of Luxor and Aswan, the Western Desert and the White Desert, Siwa Oasis, the Red Sea coast and its reefs, the mountains of South Sinai, and the old streets of Cairo and Alexandria.
The light is reliable most of the year, distances between key locations are short by air, and Egypt has an experienced pool of film crews trained at the Higher Institute of Cinema and on decades of local and international productions.
How filming permits work in Egypt
Since November 2025, the Egypt Film Commission (EFC), a division of Egyptian Media Production City, oversees all foreign film and television production in Egypt. Permits, script approval and equipment customs are processed through its Single Digital Window.
EFC quotes 10 to 30 days for shooting permits. Script approval comes first. Once prep and first approvals are in, the remaining permits are often ready in about a week. We prepare the file, follow it daily and tell you early if a location needs a different approach.
Bringing equipment into Egypt
Camera, lighting and grip packages can be brought in temporarily through customs, coordinated with EFC, or rented locally. Many productions do both: key camera bodies and lenses travel with the crew, while lighting, grip, vehicles and generators are sourced in Cairo.
Send us your equipment list early. It affects the customs paperwork, the shipping plan and the budget.
Where to shoot
We have filmed at the Giza Plateau for Qantas and Elle, in Khan El Khalili and Wadi El Rayan for HSBC, in Egypt's White Desert for Wicked: For Good, and on the Red Sea and Sinai coasts for commercial and documentary clients.
Is there a film rebate in Egypt?
Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC) offers a 30% cash rebate to productions that shoot at its studios and backlots and use its facilities, across features, series, documentaries and programs. Eligibility and terms are confirmed with EMPC for each project, so we check yours at the budget stage and build it into the numbers.
Working with a local production company
EFC recommends that foreign productions work with a local Egyptian production company to deliver their needs on the ground. That is what Filmedia does: line production, crews, locations, logistics, permits follow-up and daily reporting to your office.
Shot in Egypt by Filmedia
From first email to wrap.
- 01You send
The brief
Script or treatment, dates, the look you want and crew size. We reply within 24 hours with location ideas and a first budget range.
- 02We scout
Recce & budget
Photo and video recce of the shortlist, then we lock schedule and budget with you, line by line.
- 03We clear
Permits & customs
We file the filming permits, often about a week once prep and first approvals are in, clear your equipment through customs and hire crew and fixers.
- 04We shoot
Shoot & wrap
Daily reports to your office during the shoot. After wrap we close permits, returns and paperwork.
Have dates and a script? Send them today. We reply within 24 hours.
Send your brief ↗FAQ
Do I need a local production company to film in Egypt?+
Foreign productions apply through the Egypt Film Commission, which recommends working with a local Egyptian production company for production needs on the ground. A local partner also handles crews, locations, transport and daily logistics.
How long does it take to get a filming permit in Egypt?+
EFC quotes 10 to 30 days, starting with script approval. Once prep and first approvals are in, the remaining permits are often ready in about a week. Send your script and dates as early as you can.
Can we film at the pyramids?+
Yes, with the right permits. We have filmed on the Giza Plateau for Qantas and for Elle Magazine.
Can we fly drones in Egypt?+
Drone and helicopter filming need their own permits, which are handled through EFC. Add them to your request from the start.
Is there a rebate for filming in Egypt?+
Yes. Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC) offers a 30% cash rebate to productions that shoot at its facilities. Terms are confirmed with EMPC per project, and we check eligibility for you at the budget stage.
When is the best time to film in Egypt?+
October to April is the most comfortable period for exterior work, especially in Upper Egypt and the deserts. Summer shoots are possible with early call times and planning around the heat.
Shoot something like this in Egypt.
We reply within 24 hours. Permits are often ready in about a week once prep and first approvals are in.